Cable forming machine



Aug. l, H J. BOE

CABLE FORMING MACHINE Filed sept. 25, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IL i Aug. l,1933. H. J. BCE

CABLE 'FORMING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1929 Aug. 1,1933. H. J. BOE

CABLE FORNI-NG' MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25, 1929 ug. 1,1933. H. J. BOE 1,920,182

CABLE FORMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 muy Aug. l,1933. i 1 BOE v 1,920,182.

` CABLE FORMING MACHINE Aug. l, 1933. H. J. BOE

CABLE FORMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 //7//L2/773% /fe//Wer j 50e Patented Aug. 1, 1933 1,920,182 CABLE. romumcMACHINE Helmer J. Boe, Maplewood, N. J., assignor to Western ElectricCompany, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a Corporation of New YorkApplication September 25, 1929 Serial No. 395,631

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a cable forming apparatus and moreparticularly to an apparatus for forming cable of the type used incommunieating intelligence electrically.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved apparatuswhereby cables of a uniform and improved construction may be producedeconomically'and at high speeds.

The invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus for formingcables wherein a plurality of individual strands or cable units areformed together into a compact group of substantially circular crosssection to form a single composite cable. A preferred embodiment of theinvention comprises a stationary distributing plate and sizing bushingwhereby the cable units are assembled together, a binder serving head, acapstan, and a take-up unit. A circular plate carrying the capstan isrotatable about a sleeve mounted in a pedestal portion, and the latteris provided with a stationary gear by means of which the capstan isrotated in accordance with the rotation of the circular plate. Thetake-up consists of a reel mounted in a revolving cradle which alsocarries a oating ring, a brake being provided to rotate the floatingring at a different speed from that of the cradle for the purpose ofrotating the reel.

The invention will be more fully understood' from the followingspecification, considered in connection with the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing acable forming apparatus embodying the features of the -invention;

Fig'. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the capstanunit of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the capstan unit, being partly sectionedtonshow the capstan driving arrangement;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, portionsof thecapstan loading and driving arrangements being shown in elevation forclearness;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and shows the cabledistributing mechanism; v

Fig. i is an enlarged View in section of the right hand reel supportshowing details of the reel drive;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 3 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the left hand reel, supportingmechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in section showing details of the left handreel supporting mechamsm;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged view in elevation showing details ofthe take-up cradle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section f showing a preferredarrangement for driving.

the tachometer.

The embodiment of the invention herein illustrated and described may beemployed to ad- Vantage in the manufacture of telephone cables from aplurality of electrical conductors, and more particularly for assemblingin a single large cable a plurality of so-called cable units, apparatusfor the production of which is disclosed and claimed in the copendingapplication of L. O. Reichelt, Serial No. 389,386, filed Aug. 30, 1929.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar parts throughout the severalviews are indicated by identical reference numerals, one embodiment ofthe invention comprises apparatus whereby a plurality of cable units 20(in this instance, six in number) are formed into a cable 21. The unitsare customarily previously stored upon individual core trucks 22(Fig. 1) shown aligned at the left of the apparatus, and are thencedrawn through a distributing plate 24, a preliminary sizing bushing 25and a floating polisher' 26. Subsequently the cable 21 passes through abinder serving head 28 and a measuring device 29, from which it is drawnby a capstan unit 30 and passed to a take-up unit 31. motor 32, of anysuitable type, and an associated main shaft 34, are provided by means ofwhich the various portions of the apparatus are actuated.

Secured to the oor or other suitable foundation is a standard 35 whichsupports the distributor plate 24. The distributor plate 24 is providedwith a cone 37 disposed centrally with reference to the distributingplate. It should be understood that the distributor plate 24 may be ofany well known type and provided with spaced apertures, through whichthe cable units are passed individually. The apertures are spaced withrespect to each other as to predetermine the relative positions of thecable units in the finished cable. In practice, one or more of the cableunits may be drawn through the cone and An electrical thereby pressedtogether in order that they may form a core about which the remainingunits may be twisted. A standard 38 is secured to the foundation andserves to support the serving head 28. 'Ihe standard 35 is provided witha bracket 40 upon which is supported a table 41,

` bushing 25 may be varied to affect the diameter .of the .compositecable 21. Adjacent to the support 42 and also. mounted upon the table 41is a housing 45 for mounting the oating polisher 26. The polisher 261sprovided with a sleeve 46 which extends through the serving head 28connecting means 58.

, mission 69 to rotate a shaft 61.

for the purpose of compressing and confining the cable units in theirultimate desired configuration which, -it will be understood,predetermines the diameter .of the nished cable. The serving head 28consists of a protecting hood 48 and a hollow sleeve 49 (Figs. 1 and 15)which is rotatably mounted about the end of the sleeve 46. Projecting ineither direction from the hollow sleeve 49 is an arm 50which is providedat each extremity with a serving spool 52--52, which is shown with asupply of binding material, preferably paper strip, valthough it may bein some instances desirable to employ cotton, silk or other textile. Thebinder serving head 28 is driven by an auxiliary shaft 54 (Fig. 15)having at one end a pulley 56 which is connected with a pulley 57 uponan end of the main shaft 34 by means of a belt, chain or other suitableThe auxiliary shaft 54 operates through a suitable variable speed trans-The shaft 61 is provided at an extremity with a pulley 62 which isconnected with the hollow sleeve 49 by a belt 64 to cause the rotationof the arm 50 and sp ls 52-52 about the cable V21. By this means, t /ostrips of paper are wrapped tightly around the cable in overlappingfashion immediately upon its passage from the sleeve 46 thus insuringthe maintenance of the diameter of the finished .cable as predeterminedby the sleeve 46.

The capstan unit 3() (Figs. 1 and 2) is supported upon a pedestal 65,having bolted or otherwise suitably attached thereto a bracket 66, whichsupports a table 68 extending therefrom to the serving head standard 38.A standard 69 is mounted upon the table 68 and supports the measuringdevice 29 in alignment with the path of the cable 21 from the servinghead to the capstan unit. The measuring device includes a rotatablemember 70 and a suitable indicator 7l connected thereto` and suitablemechanism of any well known type for the purpose of translating thenumber of revolutions of the rotatable member 70 to express the numberof feet of cable passing thereby. V

l'll'lhe capstan unit 30 includes (Figs. 3 and 4) a capstan 74 which iscarried by a circular supporting plate 76 having a toothed periphery.The

` capstan pedestal 65 is provided in the upper portion thereoi with anelongated cylindrical portion or barrel 77. Mounted internally of thebarrel portion is a longitudinally extending hollow sleeve 78 which isrotatably supported by roller bearings -80. The hollow sleeve 78 isprovided at an `endadjacen't to the measuring device 29' with a nalsizing bushing 81, the 'diameter of A. and balance to the capstansupporting plate.

which may be readily varied by any conventional means for the purpose ofsupplementing the sleeve,46 in determining the ultimate desired diameterof the cable 21. The barrel portion 77 is also provided at the endadjacent to the capstan plate 76, with an external stationary gear 82.The capstan plate 76 is provided with a central aperture 85, thediameter of which corresponds to the external diameter of the sleeve 78,which it is adapted to receive and to which it is securely keyed, asshown in Fig. 4. It will thus be readily understood that inoperation thecapstan supporting plate 76 is rotatable with the sleeve 78 and thesizing bushing 81, with reference to the stationary cylindrical portion77 and gear 82.

Radiating from the central aperture of the capstan supporting plate 76are a plurality of supporting veins 86, which act to give strength Thecapstan 74 is providedv with a cylindrical drum 88 which is rotatableupon a transverse shaft 89 journaled in housings 90 suitably secured tothe face `of the capstan plate 76.

The main shaft 34 is provided'with a pinion 92 (Figs. 2, 3, and 15)keyed thereto, which meshes with thel toothed edge of'the capstansupporting plate 76 for the purpose of-rotating the capstan plate inconjunction with the rotation of the serving head 28. 'The capstan plate76 is fitted with a stud shaft 93 to which -is keyed a pinion 94 whichmeshes with the stationary gear 82 and, upon rotation of the capstanplate 76, causes a gear 96v 'also keyed to the shaft 93 to rotate. Thegear 96 meshes with a gear 97 suitably secured to a shaft 98 whichextends through and which is suitably journaled in an aperture 99 (Fig.4) of the capstan supporting plate 76. The shaft 98 is fitted, upon thatend extending through the aperture 99, with a bevel gear reversingmechanism 101. 4"I'he reversing mechanism 101 is supported in a housing103 rigidly secured upon the face of the capstan plate 76 by bolts 104,104. 'I'he housing 103 is provided 'with a. plate 105 having a bossedaperture 120 through which extends a shaft 107. The shaft 107 isprovided at one end with a bevel gear 108 which cooperates with thebevel gear reversing mechanism 101, and at the other end with a worm109. The shaft a9 has keyed theretc' a 125 gear 110 which meshes withand is driven bythe 'worm 109.

From the foregoing it may beobserved that the cable 21 is drawn. throughthe sleeve 78 and around the capstan drum .88, the periphery of which,is tangential with the "center line oi' the sleeve'.`.78 by means ofthe,I rotation of the capstan plate. This is secured through thecooperation of gears 94, 96 and 97 with the stationary gear. 82 as theyare carried therearound by action oi the pinion 92 upon the toothededgeof the capstan-plate. The shaft 98 and bevel gear reversingmechanism 101 is actuated by gear 97, the ,shaft'klo'la and worm 109 are.rotated thereby to rotate thacapstan about the shaft 89, while.thecapstan is being simultaneously rotated bodily about anraxiscoinciding with the center line of the sleeve 78.

By thus mounting the capstan upon the ratating circular plate 76, anddriving the capstan about is own axis while it is being revolved 'withthe 145 plate 76, a lay or twist is introduced in the cable during itspassage from the distributor plate524 to the capstan 74. The degree oftwist introduced in the cable depends upon the speed ratio of the plate76 to the capstan 74. This ratio 150 may be varied in any well knownmanner, as for instance, by altering the respective ratios of gears 112,112. By counterweighting the capstan plate in such a manner it has beenfound possible to safely operate the apparatus at much higher speedsthan would otherwise be possible.

For the purpose of measuring the rate of speed at which the cable isformed the embodiment includes a tachometer mechanism 114 (Figs. 4 and16) maintained in a casing 115 which is suitably secured to the barrel77 of the capstan pedestal. The tachorneter casing 115 is provided witha dial 116 for the purpose of registering the proper values. A train ofgears driven from the capstan accomplishes this result and consistschiefly of a gear 118 which is keyed to an extension of the shaft 98. Agear 119 is made integral-with a gear 120 and it is so mounted withrespect to the sleeve 78 as to be idly rotatable therearound, and gear119 is permitted to mesh with the gear 118. A gear 122 is keyed to ashaft 123, mounted in bearing 124, the shaft 123 having keyed thereto atits opposite extremity a bevel gear 126. The gear 126 comprises a partof a differential, the opposite side consisting of a gear 127. The gear127 is keyed to a shaft 128 which drives the tachometer through a pairof bevel gears 13D-130. In the middle part of the differential a pair ofgears 132-132 are provided, which are rotatably carried by a larger gear134. The gear 134 is driven from the main shaft 34 through a bevel gear135, a shaft 136, and bevel gears 137 and 138. If it be now assumed thatthe capstan plate 76 makes one revolution with the bevel gears'137 and138 disconnected from each other and the gear 134 locked, the tachometerwould register, when the gear ratios are correct, the number ofrevolutions of the capstan plate, plus 1, multiplied by the ratio ofgear 120 to that of gear 122, as-

suming that the latter and gear 118 are equal. Such a registration,however, would be a sum of the revolutions of the capstan plate and ofthe capstan. But it isdesired that the revolutions vof the latter onlybe indicated. It is, therefore, necessary that for each revolution ofthe capstan plate the tachometer be turned backwardly in amount equal tothe amount it would be ad-l vanced by one revolution of the capstan.This is accomplished by means of the above described differentialgearing arrangement, and the driving of the shaft 136 from the mainshaft 34. When the capstan plate 76 makes one revolution the main shaft'34 will make a corresponding number of revolutions, and since the mainshaft 34 is connected to themiddle differential gears 132 and 134,rotation of the shaft 128 through the differential will be produced insuch a direction and at such a ratio that the tachometer will registeronly the revolution.` of the capstan about its own axis, thusregistering correctly.y

.Since the cable core is formed and twisted only "during its passagefrom the distributor plate 24 to the capstan 74, it is completed as itpasses over the latter, and subsequently requires only to be carefullyhandled and rapidly loaded for storage. The take-up unit 31 comprisesmeans for accomplishing this result, and includes a rotatable cradle143, for carrying a rotatable take-up reel 144 (shown only in Figs. 1,5, 6, and The take-up reel 144 is rotatable 'about its own axis at'thesame time as it is being revolved with the cradleand since the reel 144is usually of a heavy type, a special reel loading and supportingarrangement (Figs. 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10) is provided whereby the reel maybe readily and easily secured upon the cradle 143 and rmly held thereonduring rotation, and

which will also permit the ready removal of the take-up reel therefromwhen loaded. The takeup reel cradle 143 includes a ring 146 having anexternal edge which is provided with teeth 147 and a smooth peripheralgroove 148 (Figs. 1 and 2). A pinion 150 keyed to the main shaft 34meshes with the external teeth 147 of the ring 146 to rotate the cradle143. A ring 149 spaced from the ring 146 is connected therewith and theensemble braced with left cross pieces 151 Nand right cross pieces 152.The ring 146 is mounted between and rotatably upon a pair of rollers154, 154 which are journaled in housings 155, 155 secured to thefoundation of the machine (Figs. 5 and 6).

A locking roller 156 (Fig. 11) rotatably mounted in a housing 157suitably secured to the foundation of the machine, engages an innersurface of the ring 149 andacts to maintain the ring in -close contactwith a pair of rollers 158, 158 for the purpose of supporting the ring149. The rollers 158,158 are journaled in housings 159, 159 (Figs. 1 and2) suitably secured to the base of the machine.` f

Referring toFigs. 5 and 7, and particularly to the right hand reelsupport, or the reel driving end, a shaft 163 has slidably and rotatablymounted thereon a gear 164, the shaft 163 being fastened in the crosspiece 152. The shaft 163 is provided with a bronze lined opening 173 inwhich one end of a shaft l174 extending through the center of the reel(Fig. 6) is supported. After the reel is in place the gear 164 is 4movedforward by means of a lever or other.' suitable means (not shown),causing a toothed driving hub 176, carried by the gear 164 to engage thelugs 177 on the sides of the reel.` The gear 164 in sliding forwardtakes with it a bronze shoe 178, which completely covers the opening173, thus securely locking the reel shaft 174 therewithin.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the left hand support,

which consists of a metal boss 179, mountedupon the left cross pieces151 between the rings and diametrically opposite the right hand support.-A plunger 180 is fitted into a tubular bearing185 attached tothe boss179. The tubular bearing 185 is provided at the side thereof with a slot183. which receives the other end of the reel shaft 174. The plunger 180is provided at one end with a bronze lined hole 182, and at the otherend with `a threaded shank 184. A sprocket 186 is rotatable about thethreaded shank 184 and is engaged by a chain 187. A bracket 188 issuitably secured to the framework of the cradle and supports a secondsprocket 190,

vthe sprocket being keyed to a shaft 191v and placed (Figs. 1 and 11)two rails 154, 194 which are intended to align with two rails 195, 195,(Figs. 1 and 2) mounted in the floor or foundation of the machine.Extending from the ring 146 to ring 5 149 beneath each of the rails 194,194 are a pair of stationary supporting beams 196, 196 which areprovided at the front of the machine, or at that end adjacent to thering 149, with a pivot 198 about which the rails' -194 arel rotatable. 0Approximately midway of their length the supporting beams 196, 196 areconnected by a bar 199 to which is keyed a bell crank lever 200. Thebell crank lever 200 is provided with a pin 202 with which is connecteda link 203 comprising the means for elevating the ends of the rails194,1194. This is accomplished by means of a L pair of levers `208-208,disposed on opposite sides of the take-up cradle, which are held inposition with respect to notched plates 204-204 by engagement therewithof spring plungers 206-206 mounted upon each of the levers 208-208. Thelevers 208 are pivotally secured to the cross pieces of the framework bypins 209. When a reel lis to be placed in the machine the plunger 180 isdrawn into the back of the tubular bearing 185, and the rails 194-l9`4brought opposite to 195-195 upon .which the reel is placed. The reel isthen rolled into the cradle 143 to rest upon the movable rails 194-194and the levers 208 are then manually moved to raise the rails 194 to aheight corresponding withl the radius of the reel,` or, f in otherwords, until the reel shaft 174 iseven with the slot 183Y of the lefthand reel support. 'Ihe reel shaft is then moved into the bronze linedaperture 182 and the plunger 180 is advanced by operation of thesprockets 186 and 190 to Contact with the reel. The gear 1641s broughtin'on the stationary shaft 163, expos- `ing the bronze lined`1 opening173 thereof, and 40 the reel shaft 174 is locked therein by means of thebronze shoe 178. Levers 208-208 are then moved in an opposite directionand the rails 194- 194 are lowered, thus leaving the reel suspended inthe cradle.

The gear 164 is driven by a pinion 165, which in turn is connected to afloating ring 167 (Figs. 5 and 15) carried by the ring 146, throughbevel gears 168, 168 which are connected thereto by aY shaft 169. Theshaft 169 is provided with a ratchet 170, which is engageable by a pawl171. This ratchet arrangement constitutes a one-waydrive which is usedto takeup slack in the cable between the capstan 74 and the take-upreel. For example, when starting a cable on the takeup, theslack may beremoved by turning the reel by hand in the same direction in which itAis adapted to, be driven.

The oating ring 167 (Figs. 6 and 12), isv

provided externally with teeth 209, and internallywith teeth 210 and agroove 211. 'Ihe groove 211 extends somewhat deeper than the root of theinternal gear teeth 210 and is for the purpose of providin pport for thefloating ring 167 which is rotata ly mounted upon the side ofthe'lcradle ring 146. To secure this purpose rollers 213 mounted uponpins 214 by roller bearings 215 are fitted. Ring 167 isfnow freeto turnor is what is termed 11oating. Meshing with the inside gear teeth 210 ofthe floating ring 167 is a pinion 217 (Figs. 6 and 15) which is con-.,nected by means of a shaft 218 .tothe bevel.

gears 168, 168. In this condition if the machine were started-the reelcradle and the floating ring y would rotate at the same speed andproduce no motion of the reel driving gear 164. In order gear 261, shaft262 and bevel gears 263, shaft to render the reel effective to wind thefinished cable the iloating ring 167 must rotate slower or faster thanthe reel cradle. In the present embodiment the floating ring is rotatedmore slowly than the cradle ring 146.

To accomplish this the gear teeth 209 of the floating ring mesh with agear 225 mounted upon a shaft 226, to the other end of which is keyed adrum 227. A braking appartus comprising spring pressed bands 229-229,which vmay be of any conventional type, is continuously applied to thedrum 227 for the purpose of slowing its rotation and causing the gear225 to act as a deterrent against the rotation of the floating ring 167;consequently, when there-is no cable in the machine the load thus putupon the floating ring 167 will cause it to stop entirely, the pinion217 would traverse the inside of the floating ring 167 and throughoperation of the bevel gears 168, 168, shaft 169 and pinion 165 wouldproduce a high speed of the gear 164. However, when the cable isfastened to the reel, the reel and the gear 164 which drives it mustdecrease to accommodate the speed at which the cable is ydrawn throughthev apparatus by the capstan 74. When the gear 164 decreases fromthespeed caused by the stationary floating ring, the ring must increasein speed and the power to overcome the eiect of the brake 229 reverts tothe cable. Ity can thus be readily seen that the tension in the cable,as it is being wound upon the reel, depends upon the effect upon thedrum 227 of the braking mechanism 229, which obviously may be varied tovary the tension in the cable.

The distributor mechanism 145 (Figs. 6 and 15) comprises a distributorplate 230 carrying in a projecting portion a bell-mouthed bushing 231through which the cable passes. The distributor plate 230 is slidableupon guide rods 233, zsawnich are secured in brackets v234,

234 suitably mounted upon the side of the'ring 146 by means of aplurality of bolts 235. The

distributor plate 230 is provided at four points with bearings 238, 238which receive the guide rods 233, 233 and at the center is also providedwith an aperture 241. Two apertured stop plates 243, 243 are suitablymounted upon the plate 230 at each side thereof and receive through theapertures a stop rod 245 which is slidably mounted in the side brackets234, 234. The stop bar. 245 is threaded at its ends to receive stop nuts246, 246 and springs 247, 247.- The .distributor plate. is moved fromside to side between the stop nuts 246, 246 by means of a rotatingthreaded member 248 which is engaged by a one piece nut 249 '(Figs. 13and 14) having oppositelydisposed threaded portions 250. Theupper faceof the nut is provided with a slot 251 within which is secured by bolts253 one end of aber 254. A spring pin 255' is mounted upon the other endof the barl 254 by manual operation of which the bar may be movedvthrough an 'angle of 90 degrees for the purpose o1.'V disengaging thethreaded portions of the nut from the screw 248. -With thisarrangementitis possible to quickly upon the reel. The screw 248 is rotated bymeans of a bevel gear reversing mechanism 259 which is actuated bypressure of the distributor plate 230 as it alternately engages the nuts246-246 to move therod 245 from side to side. The reversing mechanism isdriven through change 265 and the chain of gears 266 from the pinion217. By means of the change gears 261, the speed of the screw 248 isvaried to suit the different diameters of cable that may be run on themachine. The one piece nut 249 is held in either the off or the onposition by means of the bar 254,

which is locked in place upon the distributor plate 230 by engagement,with a pair of spaced sockets 270-270, of the spring pin 255.

It will be understood that the above described apparatus is particularlyadapted to the formation of a single cable from a plurality ofindividual cable units and, that although in the particular instanceonly six of the individual units have been employed, a greater or lessernumber may be used with advantageous results. Also, although theinvention had been described in connection with a certain type ofapparatus, it is obviously capable of utility in'various other forms,and it is therefore desired that the invention be not limited to theembodiment shown but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimedis:

1. In a cable forming apparatus, means for assembling a plurality ofstrands into a group,

a rotatable take-up reel for receiving the grouped strands, a rotatablesupporting structure for the take-up reel, and a toothed ring oating onthe reel supporting structure for rotating the takeup reel with respectto the reel supporting structure.

2. In a cable forming apparatus, means for assembling a plurality ofstrands into a group, a take-up reel for receiving the grouped strands,a rotatable cradle for supporting the take-up reel, and a toothed ringfloating on the cradle for rotating the take-up reel with respect to thecradle.

3. In a cable forming apparatus, means for assembling a plurality ofstrands into a single group, a take-up reel for receiving the groupedstrands, a rotatable cradle for carrying the takeup reel, and a toothedring floating on and rotatable with respect to the cradle for rotatingthe take-up reel with respect to the cradle.

4. In a cable forming apparatus, a take-up reel, a rotatable cradle forthe reel, a iioatingv ringA associated with the cradle, means forrotating the floating ring and cradle at different relative speeds, andmeans for rotating the reel in accordance with the difference in speedsof the cradle and the ring.

5. In a cable forming apparatus, means for assembling a plurality ofstrands into a group, a housing, a capstan having an axis rotatable withrespect to the housing and means associated with the housing forrotating the capstan about its axis to twist the assembly of strands,and means for binding the twisted strands to form a cable;

6. In a cable forming apparatus, a plurality of strand supply reelsrotatable upon'stationary axes, means for grouping the strands, andmeans including a stationary gear, a plate, and a capstan carried bytheplate and rotatable in accordance with the movement. of the plate withrespect to the stationary gear for twisting the strands and means forbinding the twisted strands to form a cable.

7. In a cable forming apparatus, a plurality of strand supply reelsrotatable upon stationary axes, means for grouping the strands, meansfor binding the group to form a cable, means including a stationarygear, a plate, and a capstan carried by the plate and rotatable inaccordance with the movement of the plate with respect tothe stationarygear, for twisting the strands as they are formed into a cable, a takeupreel for the cable, a yrotatable reel supporting structure, and meanscarried by the reel supporting structure for rotating the take-up reel.

8. In a cable forming apparatus, a rotatable cradle, a oating ringcarried by the cradle, a take-up reel, means for rotating the take-upreel in accordance with the rotation of the cradle and means foreffecting the rotation of the floating ring for rotating the take-upreel with reference to the cradle.

9. In a cable forming apparatus, cable forming means, a rotatablemember, a capstan carried thereby for advancing the cable through theforming means, means for rotating the member to revolve the capstanbodily around an axis of rotation, means rendered effective by the ro'-tation of the member for driving the capstan independently of themember, and means connected with the capstan driving means andoperatively responsive to the member rotating means for rendering therevolutions of the member unrecordable and registering the number ofrevolutions of the capstan with respect to the member.

10. In a cable forming apparatus, cable forming means, a rotatablemember, a capstan carried thereby for advancing the cable through theforming means, a shaft for rotating the member to revolve the capstanbodily around an axis of rotation, means rendered effective by themember for driving the capstan independently of the member, and meanscontrolled by the shaft and the capstan driving means for rendering therevolutions of the member unrecordable and registering the number ofrevolutions of the capstan with respect to the member.

11. In a cable forming apparatus, cable forming means, a rotatablemember, a capstan, carried thereby for advancing the cable through theforming means, a shaft for rotating the member to revolve the capstanbodily around an axis of rotation, means rendered effective by therotation of the member for driving the capstan independently of themember, a register connected to the capstan driving means, and meansinterconnecting the shaft and the register 'for rendering the registereffective for indicating only the number of revolutions of the capstanwith respect to the member.

12. In a cable forming apparatus having means grouped along a straightline to form a plurality of strands into a cable, a support 13 rotatingabout the said line as an axis and carrying a capstan bodily around saidline to draw the cable through the forming means and twist the same, asecond support independent of the capstan support but rotatingsynchronously therewith about the same line as an axis and carrying areel to receive and take up the nished cable, and a toothed ringfloating on the support.

mlm/IER J. BOE.

